Honorary Oscar to go to Blake Edwards on Feb 29

Blake Edwards will receive an honorary Oscar at the 76th AcademyAwards on Feb 29, 2004.

The veteran film-maker will collect the honour in recognition ofhis "extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement".

"For more than 50 yearsEdwards has had an extraordinary career writing, directing and producing mainlyhis own material," Academy president Frank Pierson said in a statement."And that puts him in a select and very small group of outstandingfilm-makers."

Edwards began his career as an actor in Ten Gentlemen From WestPoint in 1942. He wroteand produced Panhandlein 1948, which marked his emergence as a film-maker.

His creditsinclude Breakfast At Tiffany's, The Party, 10, Victor/Victoria and the Pink Panther films.

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